Aerial vehicle.



R. D. ANDREWS. AERIAL VEHICLE. APPLICATION ILED ,SEPT,. 28.4908.

1,145,960.` Patented July 13, 1915.

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244, AERONAUTIGS R. D. ANDREWS.

AERIAL VEHICLE.

' APPLICATION msn SEPT. 28. 190s.

Patented July 13, 1915.

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@rai-"mmm R. D. ANDREWS.

AERIAL VEHICLE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2.8 1908.

Patented July 13, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

244. ERONAUTlCS ROBERT D. ANDREWS, OF BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS.

AERIAL VEHICLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 13, 1915.

Application filed September 28, 1908. Serial No. 454,968.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT D. ANDREWS, a citizen of the United States, a resident of Brookline, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Aerial Vehicles, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

My invention relates to aerial vehicles and more particularly to means for adjusting the relative positions of the supporting surfaces or sails thereon.

My invention comprises also adjusting means such that the vehicle may become automatically operative to maintain a given poise or stability thereby to eliminate what is at present a considerable source of accident.

My invention may be best understood by reference to the following description of one embodiment thereof, illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein- Figure 1 is a plan view of the vehicle having parts of the sails broken away; Fig. 2 is a side view thereof; Fig. 3 is a front view thereof; Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail showing an arrangement of frame joints and devices for adjusting the frame member; Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail of devices for adjusting the sails; and Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing thevehicle in flight.

Referring to the drawings: My apparatus, as here shown comprises a central articulated frame supporting at one end suitable aeroplanes l and 2, and at the other end suitable aeroplanes 3 and 4. This central frame herein comprises a central triangular frame member ABC, and similar, but inverted fore and aft members ABE and ACD, hinged or otherwise adjustably connected obliquely to said central member on opposite edges thereof and along their adjacent oppositely inclined or oblique sides on lines X-X, Y-Y.

For the best results the fore and aft members ABE and ACD may be attached to the central members at any suitable angle such that the swinging of one or another of said fore and aft members will lift a lateral portion of the supporting plane or sail carried thereby and depress another and opposite lateral portion thereof. The central member ABC is preferably constructed in the form of a truss, comprising a tie-beam BC, a king post AF and tie rods or guys AB and AC connecting the ends thereof. The member ABE which for convenience I will designate the fore member, although it may be constituted the aft member, is similarly constructed of a tie-beam AE and king post BG transverse thereto and suitable guys attached to the ends of said members. The aft member ACD also and similarly consists of a tie-beam AD a king post CH and guys connecting their free ends.

The fore and aft members ABE and ADC may be connected or hinged to the intermediate truss members ABC in any suitable manner. Herein the ends of the bars EA and AD adjacent to the top of the king post are provided with eyes 5 linked into a metallic eye 6 (Figs. 4 and 5) attached to the end of the king post AF. The eyes 5 may be conveniently attached to the tie bars EA and AD by notching the latter at their ends to receive a wire 7 which is given a twist at its end to form said eyes 5. The ends of each of these members may be served with wire 8, in order to strengthen the same. The above connection permits the axial lines of the bars EA, AD and AF to converge to a point A, and the guy AB acts as an element of both the central member and the fore member, while the guy AC acts as an element of both the central member and the aft member.

The typical hinge just described is employed also at B and C. The eyes 5 and 6 are of suiicient size to readily permit the attachment of guy wires or rods therein. It will be observed that the structure formed by the tie rods and their king posts, guyed in this manner affords a truss which is eX- tremely rigid and, at the same time, is perfectly free to turn about the lines X-X,

The aeroplanes l, 2, 3 and 4 for supporting the vehicle in the air, are Similar in structure and may be attached to horizontal shafts 14 on the ends of the fore and aft members ABE and ACD respectively. One or more aeroplanes mav be used on each end of the vehicle, but herein two superposed planes are shown offset from the vertical to give more eifective support. These aeroplanes or sails herein may be supported upon frames 9 comprising members or spokes 10 and 11, of different length having guys 12 connecting their ends and enlarged at their crossing point to form hubs 13 to rotate on the ends of the shafts 14, and may be held in place by suitable pins 15. The shafts 14 are held perpendicularly to the fore and aft members by suitable guys 17 and 1S extending from the ends of said shafts to the points A and B.

The sails may be conveniently and removably attached to the frames 9 by spars 19 slipped into loops in the sail edges and in eyes 20 in the ends of said spokes 10 and 11, and held by the suitable set screws 20. The sail material will be of suflicient width to concave or belly slightly when mounted on the frame 9. To further support the sails and maintain them in position, the spars 19 of the upper and lower planes may be connected by upright rods 21 spaced at intervals and having eyes in their ends similar to those in the spokes 10 and 11 and with guys may be used as required to gain stiffness.

It will be apparent that the rotation of the frames 9 about the shafts 14 will enable the aeroplanes to be adjusted to any angle with respect to the wind. This adjustment may be controlled by suitable steering ropes 22, 23 herein attached to the upper, inner ends of the spokes 11, passed around guide sheaves 24 downwardly around guide sheaves 25 fastened to the tie bar BC and then attached to the lower inner ends of the spokes 10. To rotate the sail as a whole about the shaft 14, the steering ropes 22, 23 may be operated in unison and thus cause the vehicle to rise or fall.

A wide range of sail adjustment may be obtained by drawing on the ropes 22, 23 independently to warp the sail. 1n other words the forward edge portion of the sail may be moved above or below the normal position of the aeroplane while the corresponding portion of the sail on the other side of the vehicle may be held stationary or given a reverse movement. To actuate and hold the sails in these positions of adjustment the steering ropes 22, 23 may be passed a number of turns about the steering spools 26 and 27 (Fig. 6), the latter herein being loosely mounted on a shaft 28 supported in a bearing 29 on the tie bar BC. These spools may be provided on one end with hand wheels 30, 31 integral therewith and on the other end with oppositely placed bevel gears 32, 33. The latter are pressed by springs 34,

spools 26, 27 may be rotated together by either wheel 3() or 31 to pull the ropes 22, 23. The latter are led on to the spools 26, 27 at their opposite sides (Fig. 4) to compensate for the opposite direction of rotation of said spools due to the drive through the intermediate gear 36. The sails may be warped by pulling out either hand wheel against the resistance of its spring thus withdrawing its bevel gear from mesh with the intermediate gear 36 (Fig. 6) whereupon one spool may be rotated without affecting the position of the other spool. The hand wheel may be then released and springs 34, 35 will cause the bevel gears to rengage. Said spools may be held in their positions of adjustment by a dog 40 weighted to remain normally in engagement with a toothed wheel 41 integral with the bevel gear 36. The aeroplanes 3 and 4, on the opposite end of the vehicle, are controlled in a similar manner.

To strengthen the central frame member ABC a horizontal laterally extending bar 42 may cross the king post AF transverse to the longitudinal line of the vehicle at a point midway between the ends of said post. This Vbar 42 may be strengthened by means of guys extending from the ends of said bar 42 to the extremities of said king post. To swing the aeroplanes 12, and 3 4 laterally about the lines X-X, Y-Y, suitable steering ropes 43 lnay be attached preferably to the ends of the shafts 14, brought toward each other, guided over sheaves 44 mounted on the same pivot pin and located at the ends of the bar 42. Said ropes may be then passed a number of turns around a controlling winch 45, and attached to the other ends of the shafts 14. These ropes 43 act not only to steer the vehicle but also as guys essential to the rigidity of the structure. The winch 45 is preferably placed parallel with the king post AF and is mounted on a suitable shaft, and may be controlled by a hand wheel 46 located in any convenient position. The latter may be provided with teeth 47 on the inner face thereof and be held in adjusted position by means of any suitable dog 4S. The steering ropes 43 are passed preferably parallel to the bar 42, and while both shafts 14 are shown herein as controlled simultaneously by the winch 45 and hand wheel 46, they might be controlled separately by any suitable means as desired.

The bar 42 is rigid with respect to the central member ABC and therefore any movement of the latter is shared by said 244-. ERGNAUTlCS plane they will serve to change the course of the vehicle in a sidelong direction, the direction taken being toward that side renbers tending in flight to return to their normal position 1n a vertical plane.

6. An aerial vehicle comprlslng, 1n combar. 1t may be supposed that the fore and dered concave by the position of said mem- 65. aft members are swung about the central bers. member. This will depress one end of the In view of the fact that the sails or aeroshafts 14 and raise the other at y.the same planes herein are attached at right angles to 5 time raising one end of the steering rope 43 the planes of the fore and aft members reattached thereto and lowering the other. spectively, the plane of the supporting sails 70 One end of the bar 42 will then be above the of the vehicle will vary simultaneously with level of the depressed end of the shafts 14 the variation of the truss members from a and the other end of bar 42 will be below position in one plane. Since the latter variathe raised end of the said shafts 14, and tion is proportionate to the degree of conwill thus compensate for the tilting of the cavity of the members, the sails will depart 75 latter, take up slack and keep the ropes 43 from a horizontal or normal position in proalways taut. This is a necessary condition portion as the members are rendered consince said rope 43 is an essential element to cave and the course of the vehicle is changed,

15 maintain the rigidity 0f the apparatus, T0 the effect being to raise the outer ends of steer the vehicle laterally the Winch 45 may the sails and to depress the inner ends. |The 80 be rotated by the hand wheel 46 thus deviguys and pliable sail supporting spars give ating the aeroplanes supported on the ends the vehicle suificient elasticity to yield to of the shafts 14, and moving the three frame Vlgllies 0f ail" and at the Same time giVe members ABC, AEB and ACD. away from sufficient strength to hold the frame memtheir normal position in one plane. The bers in proper relation. S5 whole or any part of the Space defined by It is to be understood that my invention is the guys of the trusses ABE and ACD may not limited to the specific embodiment be filled with any suitable sail material, and herein SilOWIl but that Va-IlOIlS mOdiiiCatiOnS herein the spaces HCD and GEB are shown mly be milde WltilOut depillilrlg IOIH the so filled. It will be apparent that the vehi- Splrt 0f my mventon. 90 cle may act as a glider or it may be provided Claims: with suitable engines 50 and propellers 51 1. An apparatus of the class described herein mounted on the frame, at a proper comprising in combination, fore and aft distance from the king post AF. main supporting surfaces, and connecting In aerial vehicles of the aeroplane type it means therefor comprising adjustably con- 95 is necessary to provide some means to pernected members having provision causing mit the vehicle to run along the ground in them to tend to remain normally in one order to get up a speed sufficient to lift it plane.

into the air. To support the vehicle when 2. An aerial vehicle comprising, in comon the ground any suitable wheels 52 may bination, fore, aft and intermediate frame 100 be mounted beneath the same and herein members adjustably connected one to anbicycle wheels are shown, attached to the other and normally in a. continuous vertical king posts GB and HC of the fore and aft plane, and main supporting aeroplanes cartruss members, and therefore share their ried by said fore and aft members.

motion. These wheels 52 may be mounted 3. An aerial vehicle comprising, in com- 105 in any suitable manner as by forks 53 which bination, fore and aft members and an inmay be fixed to the said ribs, and their attermediate member adjustably connected tachment strengthened by braces 54. The thereto, said members normally being in a supported elements, such as the engine, continuous substantially vertical plane,

passengers, or other load, may be carried means to vary the relation of said members by the intermediate member ABC and the at will, and main supporting aeroplanes vehicle controlled therefrom. Preferably carried by said fore and aft members. the fore, aft and central members when in 4. An apparatus of the class described 50 their normal relation will be in one and the comprising in combination, fore and aft same plane. When forced out of this normain supporting surfaces, and relatively admal relation the supported load will tend justable members connecting said surfaces to return said members to their normal posiand having provision for automatically tion in one plane, and in passing through causing said surfaces to tend to remain in a 55 the air the vertical sails in the fore and aft given normal relation.

members will act as vancs and, when free 5. In an apparatus of the class described, to adjust themselves relatively to the central the combination of a jointed frame having member, will automatically tend to assume fore and aft sail carrying members, an interpositions in said normal plane, and keep mediate member pivotally connected to said G0 the sails in position to support the vehicle. fore and aft members, and sails attached to Then these three members are not in one the latter to share their motion, said membination, an articulated substantially verti-I cal main supporting frame having fore and aft aeroplane supporting members and an intermediate member hinged thereto, and means for moving said members with relation to each other.

7 An aerial vehicle comprising, in combination, an articulated main supporting frame having fore and aft members and an intermediate member hinged thereto, aeroplane supporting frames rotatably mounted on said fore and aft members and means for rotating said frames independently of each other.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of an articulated main supporting frame, sail carrying means rotatably mounted thereon and sails removably mounted on said carrying means.

9. An aerial vehicle comprising, in combination, an articulated body frame having normally vertical fore and aft sail carrying members and an intermediate load-carrying member.

10. An aerial vehicle comprising, in combination, a frame having normally vertical fore and aft main supporting surface carrying members and an intermediate member jointed to said fore and aft members respectively.

11. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a jointed frame having fore and aft sail carrying members and an intermediate member jointed obliquely to said fore and aft members respectively.

12. In an apparatus of the class described the combination of an articulated main supporting frame comprising a plurality of members, and aeroplane carrying means rotatably mounted on some of said members.

13. An aerial vehicle comprising, in combination, a main supporting frame having fore and aft members and an intermediate member adjustably connected thereto, and aeroplane carrying means rotatably mounted on said fore and aft members respectively.

14. An aerial vehicle comprising, in combination, a main supporting frame having rigid fore and aft members and a rigid intermediate member adj ustably connected thereto, shafts mounted on and transverse to said fore and aft members, and aeroplane carrying frames rotatably mounted on said shafts.

15. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a frame having fore and aft sail-carrying members and an intermediate member and oppositely inclined connections between said fore and aft members and said intermediate member to permit relative adjustment of said members.

16. An apparatus of the class described comprising, in combination, a jointed frame having fore and aft members and an intermediate member, each comprising a longitudinal tie-bar and a king post perpendicular thereto and guys passing from the ends of said longitudinal bar to the outer end of said post to form a rigid frame, said fore and aft members being inverted With respect to said intermediate member and adjustably attached thereto.

17. An apparatus of the class described having in combination a frame comprising normally vertical fore and aft members and an intermediate member adjustably attached thereto, main supporting surfaces attached to said fore and aft members, said surfaces and their supporting members moving together.

18. An aerial vehicle comprising in combination, an articulated normally vertical frame having fore and aft members and an intermediate load-carrying member and supporting surfaces attached to said fore and aft members.

19. An aerial vehicle comprising, in combig nation, a main supporting frame having fore and aft members, and an intermediate member adjust-ably attached thereto, sail-carrying frames adjustably mounted on said fore and aft members respectively, and sails removably mounted on said frames.

20. An aerial vehicle comprising, in combination, a jointed frame having fore and aft sail-carrying members, and an intermediate load-carrying member, horizontal shafts at the ends of said fore and aft members, sailsupporting frames mounted on the outer ends of said shafts, and means for rotating the frames on one shaft independently of each other to Warp the sails.

21. In an aerial vehicle, the combination of a frame having fore and aft members and an intermediate member, said fore and aft members carrying main supporting surfaces and vertical sails.

22. In an aerial vehicle, the combination of a jointed frame having fore and aft members and an intermediate member obliquely and adjustably attached at its opposite ends to said fore and aft members, the latter carrying vertical and horizontal sails.

23. An aerial vehicle comprising, in combination, fore and aft members and an intermediate member hinged thereto, shafts rigidly attached to the outer ends of said fore and aft members respectively, sail frames rotatably mounted on said shafts, and sails on said frames, any movement of said fore and aft members being shared by said sails.

24. An aerial vehicle comprising, in combination, a main frame having fore and aft members and an intermediate member ful crumed to said members, and means for changing the relation of said members to concave kthe frame as a Whole to vary the direction of the vehicle.

25. An aerial vehicle comprising, in combi- 244. AbHUNAU l lbb nation, a jointed frame having fore andaft members and an intermediate member, the latter comprising a central vertical king post member, a tie-bar member perpendicular thereto at the base thereof, and a horizontal member perpendicular thereto and attached centrally thereon transverse to the line of travel of the vehicle, and propellers mounted thereon to drive the latter through the air.

26. In a device of the class described, the combination of fore and aft members and an intermediate member, horizontal means mounted on the outer ends of said fore and aft members respectively, and main supporting frames removably mounted on said means.

27. An aerial vehicle comprising, in combination, an articulated main supporting frame having fore and aft aeroplane supporting members and an intermediate normally vertical frame member adjustably attached at its ends to said fore and aft members respectively, means for moving said members with relation to each other, and means for holding them in their adjusted position.

28. In a device of the class described, the combination of a frame having fore and aft members and an intermediate load-carrying member jointed to said members, main supporting surfaces, frames therefor rotatably mounted on said fore and aft members, means for rotating said frames to bring the surfaces into varying angles, and means for holding said frames in position.

29. A device of the class described comprising, in combination, a frame having fore and aft members supporting a plurality of superposed aeroplanes, an intermediate member adjustably connected to said fore and aft members, and controlling means connecting said fore and aft members With said intermediate member, the latter serving as a position for controlling the vehicle.

30. An aerial vehicle comprising in combination, an articulated main frame, frames mounted rotatably thereon, aeroplanes mounted on the latter and adjustable there- With to present varying angles of incidence with respect to the Wind, and means attached to said aeroplanes for adjusting them independently.

31. An aerial vehicle comprising, in combination, fore and aft members, an intermediate member, and steering means connected to said fore and aft members to move them similarly and simultaneously, said members being arranged normally to assume a position in a continuous vertical plane.

32. An aerial vehicle comprising, in combination, fore and aft members, an intermediate member fulcrumed thereto, sail supporting` shafts transverse to and mounted on said fore and aft members, steering lines connected to the ends of the shafts on the BJI LU QBEIUHE fore and aft members, and means on said intermediate member to control said lines simultaneously.

33. An aerial vehicle comprising, in combination, fore and aft members, an intermediate member adjustably connected thereto, steering lines to control said fore and aft members and a truss bar extending laterally from said intermediate member to receive and guide said steering lines and take up any slack therein caused by the relative movements of said members.

34. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a frame having fore and aft sail-carrying members and an intermediate member and oppositely inclined connections between said fore and aft members and said intermediate member, said connections being in the same plane and permitting relative adjustments of said members.

35. In a flying apparatus, the combination of fore and aft aeroplanes and a frame connecting the same, members of Which are connected to said aeroplanes and pivotally connected to an intermediate member on diagonal lines so that a load on the intermediate member tends to cause the aeroplanes to assume a normal position.

36. An aerial vehicle comprising, in combination, fore, aft and intermediate members obliquely and adjustably connected one to another to cause them automatically to tend to return to their normal positions in a continuous vertical plane.

37. An aerial vehicle comprising, in combination, fore and aft aeroplane members and an intermediate normally vertical frame member having upwardly converging jointd connections With said fore and aft memers.

38. In an aerial vehicle the combination of a jointed frame comprising fore and aft sailcarrying truss members and an intermediate load-carrying truss member, said members being normally in the same plane.

39. In an aerial vehicle, the combination of main supporting surfaces With a jointed frame connecting said surfaces and comprising fore and aft truss members and an intermediate load carrying member, said members having provision inherent thereto for causing them to tend to remain in a normal position.

40. In an aerial vehicle the combination of a jointed frame comprising fore and aft sailcarrying truss members ABE, ACD, and an intermediate load-carrying truss member ABC, said members being normally in the same plane.

41. An aerial vehicle comprising, in combination, fore and aft spaced aeroplanes and an obliquely articulated 'frame therefor eX- tending from one to another and supporting the same.

42. An aerial vehicle comprising, in comjoint extending obliquely to the longitudinal j axis of said frame.

43. An aerial vehicle comprising, 1n combination, fore and aft spaced aeroplanes and a supporting frame therefor provided with diagonal joints extending along downwardly divergent axes transverse to the longitudinal axis of the frame, said joints permitting the turning of the aeroplane whereby the latter are changed from their normal positions to one in which they as sume the relation of the sides of a pyramid having its apex downward.

44. In an aerial vehicle the combination of two aeroplanes substantially at the same level and separated in a fore and aft direction with a structural member supporting said aeroplanes, said member being jointed obliquely toits longitudinal axis and in the vertical plane of the vehicle, the whole presenting a symmetrical construction permitting the vehicle to be driven in either direction.

45. In an aerial vehicle the combination of fore and aft spaced aeroplanes with a supporting frame therefor jointed obliquely to the longitudinal axis of said frame and means for concaving said frame whereby to change the course of the vehicle.

46. An aerial vehicle comprising, in cornbination, fore and aft spaced aeroplanes, a main longitudinal truss frame therefor comprising a plurality of rigid parts normally in a vertical plane and adjustably connected along upwardly converging axes.

4:7. An aerial vehicle comprising, in combination, fore and aft spaced aeroplanes and a longitudinal supporting frame therefor, symmetrical in a fore and aft direction comprising a plurality of parts adjustably con nected along upwardly converging axes, means on said frame for varying the angles of said aeroplanes to the wind, the latter being similar in shape and area, but opposite in fore and aft conformation permitting the. vehicle to be propelled with equal facility in either a fore or aft direction.'

48. In a flying apparatus, the combination of a frame with fore and aft main supporting surfaces hinged thereto permitting the variation of the angles of incidence of said surfaces, said frame having provision permitting the adjustment of the portions of said main fore and aft surfaces located on one side of the apparatus toward or from one another.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence 0f two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT D. ANDREWS.

Witnesses:

HENRY T. WILLIAMs, Evnnnr'r S. EMERY.

C'opies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. C. 

